CrowdRise

CrowdRise
source
Name	CrowdRise
Type	Private
Industry	Crowdfunding
Founded	2010
Founders	Ethan Kaplan, Edward Norton, Robert Wolfe
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California
Parent	GoFundMe (acquired 2017)

CrowdRise CrowdRise was an online peer-to-peer fundraising platform founded in 2010 that specialized in charitable giving, event-based fundraising, and celebrity-driven campaigns. The platform connected individual donors, nonprofit organizations, entertainers, and athletes to support causes ranging from disaster relief to cultural institutions. Its trajectory intersected with major nonprofits, entertainment entities, and technology investors, culminating in acquisition by a leading crowdfunding provider.

History

CrowdRise was co-founded by Ethan Kaplan, Edward Norton, and Robert Wolfe in 2010, emerging amid a wave of platforms like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe that reshaped philanthropy and online fundraising. Early growth involved partnerships with events such as the NFL’s charity initiatives and celebrities linked to World Wildlife Fund campaigns. The company attracted attention from media outlets including The New York Times and Forbes, while engaging venture capital from investors associated with Andreessen Horowitz-style firms and entertainment-focused backers. In 2017, the platform was acquired by GoFundMe in a deal that consolidated major players in the donations space. Post-acquisition, operations and legacy campaigns were integrated with the acquirer’s infrastructure and partnerships with organizations like Red Cross, UNICEF, and major sports leagues were transitioned or rebranded.

Platform and Services

The service offered online fundraising tools for individuals, nonprofits, and event organizers, enabling campaign pages, donation processing, ticketing, and social sharing similar to features provided by Eventbrite and payment processors like PayPal and Stripe. It supported peer-to-peer fundraising models adopted by institutions such as Susan G. Komen, American Cancer Society, and universities with alumni networks like Harvard University and Stanford University. CrowdRise also provided celebrity fundraising options that leveraged relationships with actors, musicians, and athletes connected to Sundance Film Festival, Comic-Con International, and professional teams in Major League Baseball. The platform integrated promotional partnerships with broadcast events and benefit concerts featuring entities like MTV and NBCUniversal to amplify campaigns.

Fundraising Campaigns and Impact

Campaigns on the platform ranged from disaster relief after events involving organizations like International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to arts funding for institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and community initiatives tied to municipal governments like City of Los Angeles. High-profile celebrity-led drives involved figures linked to Human Rights Watch, Save the Children, and environmental efforts alongside Greenpeace. Peer-to-peer marathons and endurance fundraisers partnered with races like the Boston Marathon and charity swims connected to foundations associated with Michael Phelps. Aggregate impact metrics were frequently cited by major nonprofits and philanthropic foundations including Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ford Foundation in evaluations of online giving trends.

Partnerships and Acquisitions

Throughout its existence CrowdRise developed strategic alliances with nonprofit networks such as GuideStar and Charity Navigator for vetting and credibility, and corporate sponsorships with brands like PepsiCo and sporting organizations such as the National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer. Event partnerships included collaborations with festivals and award shows like SXSW and The Oscars for promotional giving initiatives. The 2017 acquisition by GoFundMe combined two leading platforms and prompted regulatory and marketplace discussions involving consumer advocates, payment networks like Visa, and fundraising standards promoted by Independent Sector.

Business Model and Technology

The platform’s revenue model combined processing fees, optional platform fees, and premium service offerings for enterprise clients including universities, museums, and major nonprofits similar to services sold by Blackbaud and Classy. Technologically, it employed web application stacks and integrations with social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to enable viral sharing, along with donation APIs compatible with Stripe and legacy payment rails used by PayPal. Analytics and CRM integrations allowed organizations to sync donor data with systems like Salesforce and fundraising software used by institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and Yale University for stewardship and reporting.

Criticism and Controversies

The platform faced scrutiny common to crowdfunding services, including debates over fee structures raised by consumer advocates and coverage in outlets like The Guardian and The Washington Post. Questions were raised about campaign vetting and fund allocation in high-profile disaster and medical fundraisers, echoing controversies involving other platforms such as YouCaring and prompting comparisons to regulatory guidance from agencies like the Federal Trade Commission. Celebrity-driven campaigns occasionally drew criticism from nonprofit watchdogs including CharityWatch regarding fundraising efficacy and donor transparency. Post-acquisition integration prompted discussions in industry forums including TechCrunch and Wired about market consolidation and impacts on nonprofit fundraising choice architecture.

Category:Crowdfunding companies